Melrose Youth Soccer
Coaches Manual
Compiled by:
Melrose Youth Soccer Board of Directors
In this Manual:
Introduction p. 3
MYS Code of Ethics p. 4
MYS Board of
Directors p. 5
Fields – all the
nitty gritty p. 6
U6 Munchkins p. 9
U8 City League p.12
U10 City/Travel p.17
U12 Travel p.20
U14 Travel p.24
General Notes to
Coaches p.25
Recommended
Websites p.27
A message from the Melrose Youth Soccer Executive
Board
It is with great pleasure that we take this time to congratulate you for taking on the challenging responsibility of coaching the children of Melrose Youth Soccer. Our belief is that coaches form the backbone of our organization, because in the time you spend with your players, you are not only responsible for each player’s athletic development, but also his or her social and emotional development as well. In that sense, there is a natural and appropriate parallel between coaching and teaching: the field is a classroom, the athletes are students, and certainly, the coach is a teacher.
It
is in that spirit that we hope to lead Melrose Youth Soccer in a direction
where not only will we develop terrific soccer players, but good people as
well. We are certain that every parent
expects their child’s teachers to be of high quality, certified, and committed
to their own professional development, so too should they have those same
expectations for their child’s soccer coach. Melrose Youth Soccer has
undertaken a serious commitment toward the education of all of our coaches, and
will be working with both the National Soccer Coaches Association of America
and the Mass. Youth Soccer organization in the future to provide that
instruction. Ultimately, like our
teachers, we envision all our coaches to be certified so as to offer the very
best for our young players.
We also envision the creation of a true “soccer culture” in our community where players at the earliest age dream of playing high school soccer for Melrose High with parents and coaches working together in a positive fashion. The old adage of- “It takes a village.” will be the cornerstone of this effort. The bottom line will always be that we have a positive, fun, and challenging environment for our all players to be the very best they can be… just like in the classroom.
About this Manual
A great deal has been learned in the past twenty years about kids and youth sports: why they start a sport, why they leave one, and how they learn best. To be an effective coach, you must:
· Be a good role model.
· Understand the players in your age group, and have realistic expectations for them.
· Use a variety of age-appropriate games to teach soccer skills.
This manual was created to help each coach meet these criteria. In each section, you will find information describing the characteristics of players in each age group, the MYS philosophy regarding that age group and sample games you can use in practices. Coaches are expected to read and understand the MYS code of ethics and to be familiar with the material that pertains to their age group. You will also find information about fields, rainouts, rescheduling and registration. If you are in doubt, ask your age group director or a board member for clarification – we’re here to help!
The following code of ethics has been developed by the NCSAA, the National Soccer Coaching Association of America, and Melrose Youth Soccer. MYS expects its coaches to understand and support it.
Melrose
Youth Soccer Code of Ethics (as outlined by the NSCAA)
1. Soccer is the player’s game. The paramount concern of coaches is the holistic development, welfare, enjoyment and safety of their players.
2. Coaches bear responsibility for teaching players to strive for success while playing fairly, observing the laws of the game, and the highest levels of sportsmanship
3. Coaches shall treat officials with respect and shall teach their players to do the same
4. Our opponents are worthy of being treated with respect. Coaches will model such respect for opponents and expect their players to do the same.
5. The coach shall model grace, dignity and composure in both victory and defeat.
6. Coaches shall model inclusive behavior; actively supporting cultural diversity while opposing all types of discrimination including (but not limited to) racism and sexism at all levels of the game
7. Coaches are responsible for taking an active role in education about prevention and treatment of drug, alcohol and tobacco abuse both in their lives and in the lives of their players.
8. Coaches shall seek to honor those who uphold the highest standards and principles of soccer and shall use appropriate protocol to oppose and eliminate all behavior that brings disrepute to the sport; violence, abuse, dishonesty, disrespect, and violations of the laws of the game and rules governing competition.
MYS Board of Directors 2007-2008Season
|
Name |
Board Position |
|
Rich
Altonaga |
Co-President |
|
Bill
DeSimone |
Co-President |
|
Ron
Pesaturo |
Treasurer |
|
Gary
Smith |
Registrar |
|
Heather
McSween |
Secretary |
|
Dennis
McCarthy |
Fields
Coordinator |
|
Heather
McSween |
Fields
Scheduler |
|
Trish
McElligott |
Fields
Manager |
|
Stephen
Finley |
Referee
Coordinator |
|
Bill
DeSimone |
Equipment
Coordinator |
|
Dave
Foulser |
Website
administrator |
|
Gary
Smith |
Munchkin
Coordinator |
|
Sean
O'Brien |
U-8
City Coordinator |
|
Steve
Silveira |
U-10
City Coordinator |
|
Rich
Altonaga |
Travel
Coordinator |
|
Beth
Fantozzi |
Travel
Adminstrator |
|
Tom
Russell |
Communications
Director |
|
Chris
Lippert |
Board
Member |
All board members can be reached via email – addresses are listed on the MYS website, www.melroseyouthsoccer.net
The MYS website is also a very important source of information for parents – let your parents know that it’s out there for their use too!
Fields: All of the Nitty Gritty
A representative
from MYS’ Board of Directors (Field Coordinator) serves as liaison between the
City of Melrose and the league. The
Field Scheduler works with the city to receive permits for use of the fields,
scheduling issues and submits requests for field maintenance as appropriate. Although the city maintains the field,
Melrose Youth Soccer measures and lines the fields for soccer. High School Varsity sports receive priority
use.
PRACTICE:
· Each team is granted practice time on a field appropriately sized for the age group.
Note: The City league typically uses one (1) one-hour practice session
per week and the Travel league uses two (2) one-hour practice sessions per
week.
· In many cases the field will be shared by 2 teams at once, each team taking half the given space.
· Coaches sharing the field must respect the space of the other coach and not interfere with the drills and games being run.
· In some cases, such as Pine Banks turf in the spring, the field is shared by three (3) or four (4) teams at a time. On those occasions it is expected that each team has 20 minutes of “goal time” during the 60 minute practice.
· All coaches must start and end practices on time so as not to interfere with a team awaiting their turn for practice. Coaches arriving for practice should not interfere with a team or a coach who is in the middle of practice. Stay to the side.
GAME DAY:
· Coaches using the field for the first game of the day must set up the corner flags and anchor the goals with either a sand bag or hook.
· ALL SUCH EQUIPMENT IS LOCATED IN THE LOCK BOX ON EACH FIELD.
· Coaches scheduled for the last game of the day must return the corner flags, sand bags and anchors to the lock box.
· The city provides barrels for trash at each field that will be emptied weekly. Coaches must clean-up their technical area after each game and pick up any discarded water bottles and trash.
FIELDS CLOSING:
· A representative from MYS will evaluate the playability of all fields by 6:30am on each day during the weekend games are scheduled.
· In the event that the fields are deemed unplayable the coach of the first game of the day will be called and the Melrose Youth Soccer web-site (http://www.melroseyouthsoccer.net) will be updated with the field status.
· Games scheduled to be played later than 10am should check the MYS web-site for field information.
· During the week, field evaluation will be done by 2:30pm.
· Coaches will NOT be called regarding mid-week closings. An email will be sent from the appropriate age director and/or MYS Field Manager and the MYS web-site will contain the status.
· When in doubt check the website and email BEFORE practicing.
· Reasons to close field include: thunder and lightening, pouring rain, standing water left from rain earlier in week.
RESCHEDULING GAMES:
Games are rescheduled in the event of inclement weather, or school or religious event conflicts ONLY. When this situation occurs, use the following guidelines:
1.
Contact the appropriate field scheduler (see
below for contact person for each field) to discuss need for reschedule.
2. Identify two-three possible alternative times and dates for game.
Note: In travel it is the
responsibility of the host team to be most accommodating.
3. Confer with the opposing coach and offer possible make-up dates.
4. When coaches agree on time / date reconfirm with the appropriate field scheduler.
5. The Field Scheduler will confirm the time/date and reserve it for the make-up game. In U8 and U10 City the program coordinators will also confirm the referee with the MYS referee coordinator.
For travel only;
6. Travel teams MUST confirm with their Middlesex league (MYSL) age directors. Your Middlesex league (MYSL) age director will officially cancel and reschedule the travel game.
7. Fall Season: The field scheduler will confirm with the MYS referee coordinator regarding a rescheduled game.
8. Spring Season: Your MYSL age director will request a referee for your rescheduled game.
SCHEDULE COORDINATORS
BY AGE GROUP
Munchkins : The Munchkins schedule is managed by the Munchkins Coordinator
U8 : U8 games and practice schedules are managed by the U8 City Coordinator.
U10 : U10 City practice and game schedules are managed by the U10 City Coordinator.
The City Coordinators will interact with the Field Scheduler to obtain their initial practice times and game times and to confirm field availability for make-up games.
U10T, U12 – U18 : U10T, U12, U14, U16 and U18 Travel practice and game schedules are managed by the MYS Field Scheduler.
FIELD MAINTAINANCE:
· The Field Manager for MYS will be the contact person for any field maintenance and safety concerns.
· Measuring and lining the fields will be supervised by the MYS Field Manager.
Heather McSween
MYS Field Scheduler 2007-2008
Trish McElligott
MYS Field Manager 2007-2008
Mass.
Youth Soccer State Curriculum for U6 (Munchkins)
NCSAA “Parent” license or Mass.
Youth Soccer “G” Course Recommended for coaches.
In this level, Melrose Youth Soccer expects
its coaches to provide a fun and supportive environment for players through the
use of games. U6 players practice for one hour per week, typically on Saturday
afternoons at the Stone Zoo field in Stoneham. The emphasis is on skill
development, not competition, so intra-squad scrimmages are expected to take
place in the last 15-20 minutes of a practice.
Skill Development Goals:
·
Dribble with
all sides of both feet
·
Dribble out of
trouble
·
Dribble past
someone
·
Soft first
touch
·
Juggle his/her
own age (allow for one bounce between juggles)
Characteristics
of U6 Players:
Although
sometimes we may mistake 5-6 year-olds for little adults, they are clearly not
little adults. They have
many years of childhood and development to enjoy before they are able to look
at life in a similar
fashion to adults. The reason for this is that they need time to
intellectually, emotionally, and
physically develop. Although we do live in the same world, when seen through
our own eyes, the world
adults and children experience is quite different.
U6 Players are often:
· focused on themselves – reality to them is solely based on what they see and feel.
· unable to see the world from another’s perspective – it is “the world according to me” time. Asking them to understand how someone else is seeing something or feels is unrealistic.
· everything is in the here and now – forget about the past and future, they live in the moment.
· heating and cooling systems are less efficient than adults – we need to give frequent. water breaks (every 8-10 minutes) or they may just run until they cannot run anymore.
· enjoying playing, not watching – they feel no enjoyment from watching others play when they could be playing too. Make sure every player has a ball in practice so every player is always playing.
· limited attention span (on average 15 seconds for listening, 10-15 minutes when engaged in a task) – keep your directions concise and to the point. When in an open environment, such as a park, their attention span will dwindle towards 10 seconds.
· effort is synonymous with performance – if they have tried hard, they believe they have done well. This is a wonderful quality and we should be supportive of their enthusiasm.
· active imaginations – if we utilize their imaginations in practice activities, they will love practice!
· look for adult approval – watch how often players look to you for approval or to see if you are looking. Also be encouraging when they say “Coach, look what I can do!”
· unable to think abstractly – asking them to think about spatial relations or runs off the ball is unrealistic.
· typically have 2 speeds -- extremely fast and stopped.
· usually unaware of game scores – we should keep it that way.
· often like to fall down just because it is fun – they are just children having fun ☺
·
often cannot
identify left foot vs. right foot – they know which foot they use most
and if they point to their feet you can help teach them left and right.
Some
Recommended Games for U6 Players:
1. Tag---Every
child dribbles a soccer ball in the space defined while trying to tag other
players with their hand. Players cannot leave their own ball. Have them keep
count of how many people they have tagged and, if playing twice in a row, see
if players can tag more people than they did in the first game. Version
2: Players
must tag other players on their knees.
2. Red
light/Green light---All players have a ball and dribble in a limited space (or
towards the coach). When coach says “red light”, players must stop ball and put
foot on top of ball. When coach says “yellow light”, players must dribble very
slowly. When coach says “green light”, players dribble fast. Coach controls
this game with frequency of light changes and variety of changes. Once players
catch on to this game, add light of other colors and affix different actions to
them. (i.e. purple light = hop back and forth over ball, orange light = run
around the ball, black light = dance, blue light = hide behind the ball etc.
etc.)
3. Freeze
Tag---Break up the group into two teams. Everyone must dribble their soccer
ball, but one team tries to tag (freeze) the other team. If they do tag a
player on the other team, that player must freeze, place their ball above their
head and spread their legs. Another player on their team must kick his/her ball
through the frozen player’s legs to unfreeze the teammate. If all players are
frozen, game ends and the frozen team becomes the taggers. Otherwise, stop game
after a few minutes and have team reverse roles. Version
2: Coach
can be the freeze monster and try to tag all the players with players
unfreezing each other in same fashion
4. Sharks
& Minnows --- All players except one (the minnows) line up on one side of
the grid, and attempt to dribble their soccer balls over to the other side. One
player (the shark) tries to knock away soccer balls from the minnows. Any
minnow losing his/her ball becomes a shark and must help the shark in the next
round. The winner is the child who is the last minnow. When Beth plays this one
with her players, the sharks always yell “fishy, fishy cross my ocean!” before
the minnows start across.
5. Planets---Set
up cones into multiple squares or triangles that serve as planets (or cities).
All players must follow coach’s order and dribble into the planet he calls out.
Coach can have all players follow same directions or break up team so they
start at different planet and then have them dribble through the solar system
in clockwise or counterclockwise fashion. Coach can have groups dribble in
opposite direction through the solar system.
6. Kangaroo
Jack---All players except two or three begin with a ball. Players without balls
are kangaroo jacks and must hop like a kangaroo and try to tag players. If a
player gets tagged, he/she becomes a kangaroo as well until all players are turned
into kangaroos.
7. Snake---In
an appropriate space for the numbers you have, have all players dribbling
soccer balls except for 2-3 players to start. These players hold hands and work
together as one snake to tag the other players, The players with balls try to
avoid getting tagged by the snake. If they are tagged, the join hands with
players making up the snake the snake grows until all players are part of the
snake. The snake must stay together as one animal and not break off into little
parts. Encourage fun by having the snake hiss. ☺
8. Ball
Tag---Similar to other tag games except players try to tag others with their
soccer ball instead of their hand. Have them keep count of how many times they
kick their soccer ball and tag another person. Have the tag count if their ball
hits another player or that player’s ball. Can have the players tag the coach
for 10 or 20 points. Then can have players tag other selected players for 50 or
100 points etc. etc. Version 2: Rather
than having players tag each other, have them tag the coach by kicking their
soccer ball. The coach moves around without a ball to avoid being tagged. Have
players count up how many they got and can do the same variations as in the
other game by affixing a lot of points to players.
9. 
Capture
the Balls---Set up three or four “home bases” (squares) with cones roughly 2-3 yards wide. Break up the players into
teams and have each team get together in their home base. Place all the balls
in the center of the space between the home bases. On the coaches command the
teams are free to gather as many soccer balls as they can into their home base.
Players cannot use hands and there is no pushing each other or sitting/laying
on the balls. Teams try to gather as many balls as possible into their home
bases. Teams can steal balls from each others’ home bases. Coach calls time and
counts up how many balls are in each space to determine a winner. Coach allows
team 1 minute to make up a new team strategy before playing again.
10. Moving
Goal---2 coaches use a pinnie or an extra piece of clothing to form a movable
goal with each coach serving as a post and the shirt serving as the crossbar.
Players each have a ball and try to score by kicking their ball through the
goal. However, the coaches constantly move and turn to force the players to
keep their head up and to change direction as they dribble.
11. Keepie-Uppie
--- Encourage the youngest players to start juggling early. This important
soccer skill is fun to practice and can be used by young players if you allow
them to let the ball bounce. Players use knees, feet, chest (anything but
hands) to keep the ball up.
****************
Every practice should include a short scrimmage*******************
US
YOUTH SOCCER & MASS YOUTH SOCCER GAME RECOMMENDATIONS
Under 6’s
play 3 vs 3 (without a goalkeeper)
Field
Size: 20 to 30 yds long X 15 to 20 yds wide
Ball: #3
Mass.
Youth Soccer State Curriculum for U8 Players
NCSAA “Parent” license or Mass.
Youth Soccer “G” or “F” Course Recommended for coaches.
In this level, Melrose Youth Soccer
introduces a game day in addition to the practice day. U8 players practice for
one hour per week at varying times during the week. You will have to work with
your age group director to determine a practice time that works for you. Game
days are Saturdays and Sundays. For
2006, MYS is adopting the international standard of 4v4 for its game format,
and it is expected that all MYS coaches will become familiar with the spirit
and rules that govern this format. More about the 4v4 format follows at the end
of this section.
Skill Development Goals:
·
Dribble
with all sides of both feet
·
Dribble
out of trouble
·
Dribble
past someone
·
Shielding
·
Soft
first touch
·
Introduce
proper shooting technique
·
Introduce
passing
Characteristics
of U8 Players:
Although
U8 children may begin to be far more developmentally advanced than U6 children,
we must remain patient and not try to force them to develop too quickly.
Dribbling still
needs to
be the primary focus of our efforts, though passing and shooting should be
introduced at this age as well. U8 players tend to work best when in pairs and
we should allow them to work in pairs (coach selected) often. Similar to the U6
children, we need to make sure that fun is a central theme in practice. Player
development will occur most appropriately and expeditiously if all players are
enjoying themselves.
U8 Players are often:
· tend to play well in pairs – unlike 6
year-olds, these children enjoy playing in pairs. Try to set up the pairs
yourself to control the games and manage the personalities
· are now able to take another’s perspective – they now
have a sense of how other’s are
· feeling still unable to think abstractly – still do
not have this capability, be patient
· heating and cooling system still less efficient
than adults – still make sure to give frequent water breaks
· still much prefer playing to watching – keep
everyone active during practice and remember, no lines of players waiting to
kick a ball!!
· limited attention span (on average 15-20 seconds
for listening, up to 20 minutes when engaged in a task) – this may
vary greatly on any given day depending on school, diet, etc. Try to get a
gauge each day and do not fight crankiness.
· have an understanding of time and sequence – they now
understand “if I do this, then that happens”
· many have incorporated a third or fourth speed into
play –
not all players, but many players now have incorporated a speed or two between
stopped and as fast as possible
· extremely aware of adult reactions – be very
aware of your verbal and nonverbal reactions, as they look for your reaction frequently
· seek out adult approval – be
supportive when they ask about their performance or try to show you skills.
They very much need reassurance and you need to help build their confidence to
try new things at this age.
· begin to become aware of peer perception – a social
order is beginning to develop. Be sensitive to this wide range of abilities between children at this
age –
children all develop at varying paces. You may have an 8 year-old who seems
more like a 10 year-old and one that seems more like a 6 year-old on the same
team. Your challenge to is to manage this range in your practice in a way that
challenges each player at a level that is reasonable for that player.
· some will keep score – the competitive motors
churn faster in some than others. Surely some parents are fueling the motors
with their own. Regardless, we do not need to stress winning and losing at this
age. Results should not be important at this age.
· beginning to develop motor memories – by
attempting fundamental technical skills they are training their bodies to
remember certain movements.
· less active imaginations than U6 players – still
have active imaginations by adult standards, but some of the “cute” silliness
that 6 year-olds allowed will not be appreciated by this group. Still, U8
players love to have fun - use their imaginations.
Some
Recommended Games for U8 Players:
1. Free
Dribble---Everyone with a ball, use inside, outside, and sole of the foot. Have
players dribble with speed (outside of foot), change direction, and perform moves.
Coach calls out moves or changes in direction and sets the pace as the
manipulator of the session, kids carry the ball towards someone and try a move.
Version 2: As players get comfortable, coach can walk
around and put pressure on players as they are performing dribbling tasks. This
adds fun and interaction.
2. 
Knock
Out---In same space as previous activity, have players dribble balls while
trying to knock other player’s balls outside of the grid. Players can never
leave their own ball. If their ball gets knocked out have them retrieve it
quickly and get back into the game. (You may wish to have them perform a skills
task before re-entering such as 10 toe touches or juggling 5 times).
3. 
Shield-Steal---Half
of players in the group have a ball and half do not. If you do not have a ball
you need to steal one from someone who does. If ball goes out of bounds, person who touched it last does not get
possession. You can teach players the technical points of shielding as a group
at start of activity. Show technique with body sideways, arm providing
protection, ball on outside foot, knees bent, turning as defender attacks,
using feel to understand where defender is going. Fix technical shielding
errors throughout this activity and make sure entire group knows how to
properly shield.
4. Marbles---Players are in pairs, each with a ball. This time instead of chasing each other, one player plays out his ball and the partner passes his own ball in an attempt to strike the ball his partner played out. Players should keep track of how many times they hit their partner’s ball. Version 2: Once players understand this game, make it fast paced by having the players take turns at trying to hit each other’s ball without ever stopping. If player 2 misses player 1’s ball, then player 1 immediately runs to his own ball and tries to hit player 2’s ball (player 2 does not get to touch his ball after missing player 1’s ball). After player 1 has a chance, then player 2 immediately tries to hit player 1’s ball right back. etc. etc. This game is continuous and players should keep score. Hint: If 2 balls are very close to each other a player should